Improved life-peeseeyer



JHN M. BILLHOFER, OF IRVINGTON, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 64,939, dated M'ay/ QI, 1867.

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TO ALL WHOM I'l MAY CONGERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. BILLHOFER, of Irvington, in the county of Essex, in theStat-e of New York, have invented a new and useful Improved Life-Preservcr; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specication, in which drawing- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical sectiolrof this invention.

l. Figure 2 is a plan or top view of' the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. v

This invention relates to a life-preserve'r which is constructed of a stout, double, cone-shaped frame of metal or other suitable material, from the bottom of which extends a bag, which is intended to receive the legs of the person or persons occupying the lifc-preserver, and which also serves as a keel and n to steady the lifepreserver in the water and to assist in steering the same. The top of the cone-shaped frame is covered by two jaws, which can be opened or closed, and which when closed protect the person or persons in the life-preserver against the waves or the inclemencies` of the atmosphere.

A represents a frame made in the form of a double truncated cone of sheet metal or of any other suitable material. From the base or bottom of this frame extends a bag, B, which is made of some flexible but waterproof material, so that when the apparatus is not usedl said bag can 'be turned in, and the whole device stowed away in a small compass; but when the apparatus isto be used the'bag is extended, and in this case it forms a receptable for the legs of the person or persons sitting in the interior of the frame, and'at the same time it forms a n or keel, which steadies the frame in the water, and which may also be used in steering and propelling the apparatus in any desired direction. From the top of the frame A rise two jaws, C, which are made of some water-proof but flexible material, so that they can be readily opened and closed. When they are closed.

they form a semi-spherical enclosure or cap, which protects the person or persons in the interior of the apparatus against the waves or against the inclemencies of the atmosphere, and in that case light is admitted to the interior of the apparatus through one or more windows, and fresh air is admitted through a pipe, D, which is provided witha check-valve, so that it can be closed, andthe entrance of water preventedin case of an emergency. If the sea is smooth and the weather fine the jaws C are opened, .and the apparatus is propelled by means of paddles, E, which are secured tothe sides of the frame A. The interior of theframe A is provided with several bags or receptacles to receive valuables or papers, or such articles which the passengers desire to save, and the whole apparatus is. to be made of such a size that it is capable of containing one or more persons. When not used the apparatus is suspended from a rope or chain in such a position in or about the vessel or ship that' the same ycan be conveniently lowered into the water whenever it may be required; and in sea-going vessels carrying large numbers of passengers, a sutlicient number of such life-preservers ought to be kept on hand to afford room for all the passengers, and if this rule should be strictly adhered to many lives would be saved which, under the v present systemor want ot" system, are unavoidably lost.

My apparatus is light, it takes comparatively little room, and when lowered in the water it isnot liable to be capsized or swamped in the roughest sea, and the passengers occupying the same can easily protect themdirection,so that theyvstand a good chance to fall in with a vessel, even if they should be shipwrecked in mid-ocean.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 'lhe double cone-shaped frame A provided with the bag B and jaws C, substantially as andfor the purpose shown and described. I

JOI-IN MICHAEL BILLHOFER.

Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, G. BERG.

selves against the waves or against rain, andthey are enabled to propel their miniature vessel in any desired l 

